THE PEACH AND NECTARINE 



99 



(k) triple — all pro- 

 ducing blossom, 

 not any wood 

 growth, therefore 

 improper as prun- 

 ing buds. 



yield of fruit for the first year or two, I should decidedly favour the shoots being 

 left unpruned ; but when one considers that this is the time to form the founda- 

 tion of the tree, and that its future success for, say, thirty years 

 or more depends upon the method of early pruning, the import- 

 ance of the subject is apparent. In the culture of the peach 

 tree much difficulty is experienced in keeping the basal and 

 lower branches well furnished with fruit-bearing shoots. This 

 is occasioned in nine cases out of ten, in my, opinion, by not 

 cutting back the shoots of the young trees at the time of plant- 

 ing. I would recommend that each young shoot be cut back, 

 certainly half its length. This will cause growth from buds 

 near the stem, thus securing for future years an ample supply 

 of fruiting shoots at the base of the tree. 



Here, for a moment, let me introduce the subject of insect 

 pests. As soon as the buds burst into growth, in nine cases 

 out of ten there also will be found green fly developing at the Characteristic 

 same time. Let me urge cultivators to be vigilant in their Blossom Buds 

 search for the enemy, for, if once it is allowed to invade the (j^j single ;(/) double; 

 shoots in force, irretrievable damage will be done in an in- 

 credibly short time. The best way to circumvent its ravages 

 is to anticipate its visits. Therefore I would recommend that 

 the shoots be well washed with a solution of Gishurst com- 

 pound, rather weaker than recommended on the printed in- 

 structions, while growth is dormant in winter. This will, as a rule, destroy the 

 embryo fly ; if any are found upon the young growths, the best way to remove 

 them is by syringing with a weak solution of tobacco water. If effectually got 



rid of at this stage, it is probable 

 ^ that the trees will be more or 

 less free from fly throughout the 

 season. 



Disbudding. — Shoots will 

 develop rapidly on the young cut- 

 back branches, and as soon as 

 they are half an inch long dis- 

 budding must be commenced. 

 The cultivator must clearly un- 

 derstand which of the young 

 shoots are to be left to bear crops 

 of fruit the following year. The 

 basal shoot must be preserved, so 

 must also the terminal shoot on 

 the same branch. Leave also, at 

 first, three other shoots, about 

 equal distances apart between the 

 apical and basal ones ; all must be on the upper side of the branch. After an 

 interval of ten days two more of the intervening shoots may be taken away, 



Shoot of Preceding Summer 

 Properly Shortened (will 

 Bear -Fruit) 



i{v) Extremity single wood buds; (a/) extremity single blossom 

 buds ; (x) pruning to double bud, one a wood bud, and 

 the other a blossom bud ; there must be a wood growth 

 on a level with or beyond the fruit to draw the sap ; (y) 

 basal buds from which a successional shoot must be 

 secured. 



